Linda Perry Talks Beyonce’s Songwriting: “Well, Um…”

Linda Perry, pop songwriter and 4 Non Blondes frontwoman, recently weighed in on Beyonce‘s songwriting methods in a July 17 Reddit AMA. Specifically, when a fan asked how Perry (Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Pink) felt about the On the Run star “changing one word on a song and getting writing credit,” she wasn’t impressed.

“well hahaha um thats not songwriting but some of these artists believe if it wasnt for them your song would never get out there so they take a cut just because they are who they are,” Perry said. “but everyone knows the real truth even Beyonce. She is talented but in a completely different way.” Meanwhile, Beyonce’s name appears throughout her self-titled album‘s production credits.

Some of Beyonce’s most notable collaborators have argued that yes, the pop diva deserves the credit. For example, elusive producer-songwriter Boots was impressed by how Beyonce instructed him to add some scuzzy guitar to “Jealous,” as inspired by Hanni El Khatib‘s “Roach Cock.” Ne-Yo also says that the harmonies that she added to 2006’s “Irreplaceable” makes it “totally different” from what he wrote.

“So yeah, I gave her writer’s credit, because that counts. That’s writing. ” Ne-Yo said to The Breakfast Club (below, skip to 6:50).